Lost PLA Pipe Bender Dies

thingiverse

> Notice: Updated all die files. Got on my PC at home and made the tube radius much smoother. Also stuck a file in Cura, and upon seeing over one day print time, I also made versions of all the files with no sprues, which cut time from 1d5h down to 17h for me. Use wax sprues, or if you don't mind longer print, print the sprued version. May be easier to stand it vertical, add sprue and vents, and the investment mold will be smaller. <s>Remade these, the way I had to double the torus size after generating it (due to radius limitation of 100) threw off the sizes, some were over half the tube radius, some were less.</s> Also had a vent interfering with a hole. Redesigned the sprue so the interfaces with the part were vertical, should be easier to cut off. Print horizontal as oriented, will need supports under the step. You should be able to smooth any roughness from the supports with wax. Still not sure how aluminum will hold up to the larger sizes, but if you can cast aluminum already then there should be very little invested in a die $$ wise. May be worth trying if you only need a few bends of a size you don't currently have a die for. Made followers for all sizes. Everything based on page 5 and 6 of the bender plans located at www.chopperhandbook.com and still sized for 2% shrinkage. Finishing castings should be assumed. I made holes 2% undersize to account for metal shrinkage as well. Everything may not turn out just right in the casting. Holes will probably need reaming, radius may need sanding or machining. > Uploaded followers with no sprues.